June 24, 2009

The narrow sea separates Westeros and the lands to the east. In the north of the sea lies the icy island of Ibben and in the south the hot Summer Isles. The lands to the east of the narrow sea are mostly consolidated into a large eastern continent of unknown name. Being roughly the size of Eurasia, this continent's geography and climate vary greatly. The western coastline is characterized by green rolling hills, the massive Forest of Qohor, and extensive island chains such as Braavos and Lys. The middle of the continent is covered by the flat grasslands of the Dothraki Sea and the arid wastes known as the Red Lands to the east. Beyond the Red Lands, the city of Qarth sits beside the straits that lead to the Jade Sea. The south is dominated by dry rolling hills and has a Mediterranean climate, with a coastline along the Summer Sea and Slaver's Bay.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Daenerys Targaryen

DC: Evanna LynchHBO: ?

Daenerys Targaryen, also known as Daenerys Stormborn, and called Dany, is the the daughter of King Aerys II and his wife Rhaella. When she was born her father had already been killed and her mother had had to flee to Dragonstone. When Rhaella died giving birth to her, the exiled Targaryen family consisted only of his older brother Viserys and herself. At the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Daenerys is thirteen years old. She is living with Viserys in Pentos, mostly at the sufference of Magister Illyrio Mopatis. Viserys has managed to get her engaged to Khal Drogo, a mighty Dothraki chieftain. She is described as having silver-blonde hair and purple eyes.

Viserys Targaryen

DC: Peter FacinelliHBO: ?

At the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Viserys and Daenerys are living in Pentos, at the sufferance of Magister Illyrio Mopatis. Viserys has gotten Daenerys engaged to marry Khal Drogo of the Dothraki, in exchange for help in regaining his throne. He is about 21 years old at the beginning of the series and is described as having silver-blonde hair and a hard, gaunt face.

Illyerio Mopatis

DC: Jeffery JonesHBO: ?

Illyrio Mopatis is a wealthy and powerful Magister in the Free City of Pentos. He is a dealer in spices, gemstones, dragonbone, and other things. He is morbidly obese, with yellow hair and a forked beard. For a time he served as custodian of the exile Targaryens and now seeks to return them to the Iron Throne.

Khal Drogo

DC: Louie LeonardoHBO: ?

Khal Drogo was a rich and powerful Dothraki horselord (or khal). His khalasar had forty thousand warriors in addition to their women, children, and slaves. He married Daenerys Targaryen, promising to invade Westeros for her. Drogo's skin is the color of copper, his hair and eyes are black, and he is very tall and graceful. He has a long, drooping mustache and wears his hair in a braid that came to his thighs, hung with tiny bells. His long braid has never been cut, signifying that he has never lost a fight.

Sir Jorah Mormont

DC: Elias KoteasHBO: ?

Ser Jorah Mormont is an exiled knight who was once the head of House Mormont and lord of Bear Island. He fled Westeros to escape execution for trading in slaves, and entered the service of the last Targaryens. He becomes one of the most trusted companions of Daenerys Targaryen. Jorah is middled-aged and balding, but still strong and fit. He is very hairy and not particularly handsome.

Strong Belwas

DC: Ving RhamesHBO: ?

Strong Belwas is a fat eunuch in the service of Magister Illyrio. Despite his bulk, he is a formidable warrior, having lived his life as a slave in the fighting pits of Mereen. He wears no armor except a tiny leather jerkin that covers a small part of his chest. His body is festooned with scars due to his claimed custom of allowing enemies to cut him once before he kills them. Thus, each scar represents a kill. His weapon of choice is the curved arakh of the Dothraki. Belwas is a passionate gourmand, the only vice he has left as a eunuch. He is particularly fond of liver and onions. Though very friendly, he speaks only bluntly and directly, shouting his needs to the empty air if nobody is listening to him. He refers to himself in the third person.

Arsten Whitebeard/Barristan Selmy

DC: Scott GlennHBO: ?

Ser Barristan Selmy, called "the Bold", is a celebrated hero of the Kingsguard, coming from a time when the Kingsguards were considered to be the greatest knights of the realm. He killed Maelys the Monstrous in single combat in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, ending the Blackfyre line. Though he fought bravely for the Targaryens during the rebellion which overthrew them, in particular at the Battle of the Trident where he was seriously wounded, Barristan later took Robert Baratheon's pardon and became the Lord Commander of Robert's Kingsguard. Vigorous despite his age, near sixty at the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Barristan remains a remarkably capable fighter.
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June 15, 2009

The Wall is a massive wall of ice that stretches across the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms, separating it from the wild lands beyond. It extends from the Frostfangs mountain range in the west to the Bay of Seals in the east. It was reputedly created over 8,000 years prior to the present setting by Brandon the Builder after the Long Night to defend the realms of man from the wildlings and Others. Approximately 300 leagues in length and 700 feet in height, the Wall is protected by the Night's Watch. Several mentions in the text suggest that the Wall was much smaller at the time, having been built upon by the Night's Watch over the centuries to its present size. However, the severely reduced Night's Watch at the time of the books is limited to maintenance duty. A total of nineteen fortresses have been built along the Wall though only three, The Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch-by-the-sea are occupied at the times of the books.DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Benjen Stark

DC: Garrett DillahuntHBO: ?

Benjen Stark is Lord Eddard's younger brother, and the First Ranger of the Night's Watch. He is Eddard's last surviving sibling. He is described as "sharp-featured and gaunt as a mountain crag, but there was always a hint of laughter in his blue-grey eyes."

Samwell Tarley

DC: James CordenHBO: ?

Samwell Tarly is the elder son of Lord Randyll Tarly. Although fat, timid, and unsure of himself, he is intelligent and thoughtful. He is a steward of the Night's Watch.

Maester Aemon

DC: Peter O'TooleHBO: ?

Maester Aemon is the third son of King Maekar I Targaryen. He has served as a maester to the Night's Watch for so long that the rest of the Seven Kingdoms has forgotten about his Targaryen blood. An ancient man, Aemon is bald, wrinkled, shrunken and blind.

Lord Commander Joer Mormont

DC: Alan ScarfeHBO: ?

Known as "The Old Bear", Jeor gave up his lands to serve as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Brother of Lady Maege Mormont and father to Ser Jorah Mormont. He has an "immense bald hear and a shaggy gray beard."

Mance Ryder

DC: Mads MikklesenHBO: ?

Mance was once a man of the Night's Watch before breaking his vows and abandoning his post. He has since become extremely influential among the wildlings, and called "The King Beyond the Wall". He is an unremarkable-looking man in his middle years, with a fondness for music.

Ygritte

DC: Alice HenleyHBO: ?

Ygritte is a red-haired wildling girl of nineteen. Red hair is considered lucky beyond the wall and is often referred to being 'fire-kissed'. She's tough as nails, a good fighter, fiercely protective of what's hers, and ready to stand toe to toe with men.

DC: James CosmoHBO: ?

Craster, holds a keep near the Wall and gives begrudging aid to rangers. He has many wives, most of whom are his daughters. When one of his wives gives birth to a boy, Craster sacrifices the baby to the gods of the North. If the baby is a girl, he keeps the baby until she comes of age and marries her as well.

June 8, 2009

King's Landing is the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. It is situated on the Blackwater river on the spot where Aegon the Conqueror landed in Westeros to begin his conquest. The main city is surrounded by a wall, manned by a city watch known as the Gold Cloaks. Within the walls, the city's natural landscape is dominated by three hills, named after Aegon and his two sisters. Poorer smallfolk build shanty settlements outside the city. King's Landing is extremely populous, but rather unsightly and dirty compared to other cities. The stench of the city's waste can be smelled far beyond its walls.DRAMATIS PERSONAE

King Robert Baratheon

DC: Gordon KennedyHBO: ?

Robert Baratheon is a former member of House Baratheon and a former king of the Seven Kingdoms. Robert Baratheon was crowned king of the Seven Kingdoms after winning the War of the Usurper. A large man, Robert was once a renowned warrior, but grew fat from excessive alcohol and food consumption. He was known for his gregarious personality and remarkable ability to turn enemies into friends.

Joffrey Baratheon

DC: Max PirkisHBO: ?Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old at the beginning of the series. Joffrey is already strong-willed as a child and has an uncontrollable temper not unlike his mother's and an unchecked sadistic streak. Like his Lannister relatives, he is tall, blonde, and handsome.

Myrcella Baratheon

DC: Bree Seanna WallHBO: ?

Princes Myrcella Baratheon is the second oldest of the royal Baratheon children. She is delicate, beautiful, and courteous. For her age, she displays courage, a strong will, and high intelligence. She is eight at the beginning of the series.

Tommen Baratheon

DC: Connor RayburnHBO: ?

Princes Myrcella Baratheon is the second oldest of the royal Baratheon children. She is delicate, beautiful, and courteous. For her age, she displays courage, a strong will, and high intelligence. She is eight at the beginning of the series.

Varys

DC: Philip Seymour HoffmanHBO: ?

Lord Varys, called "the Spider", is the enigmatic member of the small council and Master of Whisperers, or spymaster, for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. A bald, fat eunuch of stylish dress, he usually affects a fawning, effeminate personality to hide his true feelings and motives. In keeping with this act, he often refers to spies as his "little birds". Many nobles he associates with find him distasteful and untrustworthy. He is a master of disguise, and knows many secret passages within the Red Keep.

Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish

DC: James CallisHBO: ?

Lord Petyr Baelish, called "Littlefinger," begins the series as Master of Coin (or treasurer) on the King's small council. He is also a master of court intrigue, with his brilliance matched only by his ambition. He is handsome and meticulously stylish, but also quite short, giving a double meaning to the mocking nickname Edmure Tully bestowed on him. Though a lord, his original holdings are possibly the smallest in all the Seven Kingdoms, situated on the smallest of the Fingers. His grandfather was Braavosi, and took the Titan of Braavos as his symbol. Few are aware of this; Baelish wears a mockingbird as his crest instead.
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